2009 Annual Silent Retreat

The Lay Carmelite Province of St. Joseph had just finished their Thematic Retreats last May 25 - 27 for the Novices and Professed members and last June 12 - 14 for the Aspirants and Postulants. The retreat of May was directed by Rev. Fr. Domingo Salonga under the theme of "I Have Considered the Labor Well Spent: The Interior Castle (IC) 1 -3". This dealt with the IC Mansions 1 up to 3 of St. Teresa of Avila. The retreat was well attended having 70 participants. This was held at the Oasis of Prayer Rogationist House of Spirituality, Aguinaldo Highway, Silang, Cavite. After the retreat, Bro. Melvin Castro made his temporary profession to the Order.

On June 12 - 14, the TOC aspirants and postulants made their retreat at the Bukal ng Buhay Retreat House with the theme "Seasons of the Heart". This was given by Rev. Fr. Noel Rosas, O.Carm. The retreat is centered on the introduction about what Carmelite spirituality is and the teachings of the Carmelite saints in general.

The following points have been stressed at the retreat:

• The Carmelite tradition recognizes this hunger in the human heart and says we are made this way.
• We are made to seek and search, to yearn and ache, until the heart finds food sufficient for its hunger.
• Carmelites name that food, that fulfilment, that goal of human desire…. “GOD.”
• Carmelites have been intentionally pursuing that elusive, mysterious fulfilment for 800 years.
• The tradition of Carmel attempts to name the hunger, give words to the desire, and express the journey’s end in God.
• TO be a saint, means to be myself. Therefore the problem of sanctity and sanctification is finding WHO I AM.
• OUR search for an answer of who God is, begins when we answer who we are.

After the retreat, two postulants from the Lay Carmelite Community of St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, Sis. Bernie Bustamante, and from the Lay Carmelite Community of St. John the Baptist, Sis. Lily Enriquez, was received to the Novitiate.